IF THE SHOE FITS is a landmark publication for a number of reasons. It marks bestselling middle-grade and young adult author Julie Murphy’s first foray into adult romance, and it’s also the first time that a Disney intellectual property has been developed into a publishing project for adult readers. It’s the start of a new series called Meant to Be, which brings Disney princesses into the modern age, with feel-good romances that remain true to their source material but don’t sugarcoat contemporary realities.

"Murphy does a superb job of blending details from Disney’s classic version of Cinderella with a more modern, independent heroine."

As Murphy’s novel opens, the reality is that her protagonist, Cindy, is graduating from Parsons School of Design with no clear idea of what she’s going to do next. After a college career that was initially promising and seemed to see Cindy well on her way to her goal of becoming a footwear designer, her grades crashed and burned during her final year, as the grief of losing first her mom and, more recently, her dad finally caught up with her. Without a job offer on the horizon, Cindy decides to head home to California, to crash with her stepmother Erica and stepsisters Anna and Drew while she regroups. On her flight home, she feels an instant connection with a handsome seatmate and enjoys flirting with him, but imagines she’ll never see him again once they land.

Erica is the showrunner for a hugely successful “Bachelor”-like reality TV franchise, “Before Midnight.” When a couple of contestants drop out at the last minute, the producers enlist Anna, Drew and Cindy to fill the vacant spots in the gaggle of young women competing to woo the eligible bachelor, heir to a fashion empire. At first, both Cindy and the producers aren’t sure she’s right for the part --- she would be the first plus-sized contestant in the history of the show --- but ultimately she decides that the national media exposure is just what her stalled-out career needs.

Soon Cindy is encountering backstabbing contestants, awkward wardrobe fittings --- and a bachelor who’s surprisingly familiar. Will she be subjected to national humiliation? Or will she be America’s Sweetheart?

Murphy does a superb job of blending details from Disney’s classic version of Cinderella with a more modern, independent heroine. It’s no surprise that Cindy is a complex, winning character, as Murphy bestows her with much of the same blend of pluck and vulnerability that has made her previous protagonists so beloved. Disney princess fans will love picking up on the subtle ways that Murphy pays homage to the original while also changing things up. For example, Cindy’s stepmom and stepsisters might be a bit shallow and image-conscious, but they’re anything but evil.

A fun book club project might be to read IF THE SHOE FITS alongside Kate Stayman-London’s ONE TO WATCH, another body-positive romance featuring a curvy contestant on a reality dating show. Perhaps that discussion will help fill the gap while readers eagerly await Murphy’s next take on Disney princesses in this delightful new series.